We are less than 30 hours from the 3pm, eastern time deadline limit. All the major sports channels have been gearing for weeks for tomorrow's deadline.The question is : will everyone end up disappointed when the clock ticks at 3 New York ?
With a lot of teams being restricted by cap space,Curran doesn't see big names being moved.
Don Meehan, an another influential agent, believes the big moves will take place during the summer. In the whispers heard, the cap that was set at 56.7 million this season, could drop to 52 million for next season. I guess that is why big names may not be moved until teams know what the cap will really be in 2009-10.
Sam Carchidi,has an interesting article at philly.com. He looks at the role the pro scouts will have in tomorrow's deadline day. No, they don't sit around eating popcorn in 1000$ suits. Check it out.
Pierre Lebrun gives his daily update on the possible direction the wind is blowing in the rumour mill with minus twenty seven hours til the deadline tomorrow afternoon.
More later folks !
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Well folks, we are 3 days and a day shift from the tradedeadline. Contrary to other years, this year's available rentals is not deep, as a lot of sellers of the past, could become buyers.
According to Pierre Lebrun of HNIC's hotstove, The St-Louis Blues could become buyers in this deadline. The Blues as I write this are 3 points from the eight spot in the west, held by Anaheim. Here is the dinger, the player that the Blues would like to acquire is Chris Pronger. The may just keep Keith Tkachuk.Wouldn't it be ironic if the Blues knocked the Ducks out of the playoffs after trading their star defenseman ? Bob Murray would have a lot of explaining to do.
The Ducks have told UFA defenseman, Scott Niedermeyer that he would not be traded at the deadline.
Be sure to check out the rest of Pierre's article.
Squabbling in Chicago ?
Al Strachan mentionned on HNIC's hotstove last night, that Brian Campbell and his coach, Joel Quenneville are not seeing eye on certain aspects and that if a team came calling, the Hawks would listen. Fat chance. Sam Fels, a Hawks blogger has his say on the situation.
According to Sporting News and TSN, the New York Rangers have pulled the reins of the team from coach Tom Renney. of course this is not very surprising, the team has been struggling for awhile, and the axe was due to fall.
No interim has been named as yet, but TSN's Bob Mckenzie thinks that his collegue on the NHL on TSN, John Tortorella could be a possible interim, but he is still under contract with Tampa Bay, and the Rangers would have to get persmission to put him in place. An another avenue could come within the organization,Jim Schoenfeld could also be put in as an interim.
Glen Sather,Rangers Gm,was questionned on Renney's tenure as coach, but in a Bowmanesque way deflected the question to an an another subject, and answered on Scott Gomez's possible cheap shot on Buffalo goalie, Ryan Millier, I will get to that later on.
Renney, like his three counterparts that started their seasons in Europe, all have been fired. If I'm coaching one of the teams slated to start in Europe next year, I would start to worry now, because it's almost as bad as trying to keep a doggy doodoo made puck frozen, stay that way on a sunny 25 degree celcius day in May. After awhile it starts to smell bad.
Who ever comes in for the Rangers, can he change their fortunes and save the season ? We shall find out come April 12th or before.
Gomez hit on Miller
The question did Scott Gomez run Buffalo's Ryan Miller in a chase for the puck ? Greg Wyshynski (aka Puck Daddy) has the video on his blog. After many viewings,I think he should of gotten a penalty and a suspension, like Montreal's Thomas Plekanec got a few weeks ago.If the league is going to be consistent in it's calls, they should review this and suspend Gomez, intentional or not, send a clear message, play your game, but becareful.
The Montreal Soap Opera
How can one write a blog about hockey and not have his say on the latest happenings in the land of ''Les Glorieux''. Checking different sites, a bombshell was about to explode in Montreal Saturday morning. The so called ''bombshell'' made the 1970 October crisis look like kids play. I'm not playing down the story itself, but the magnitude that the Montreal media made it sound like.Oh whoopy do,a few of the Canadiens players where at the wrong place at the wrong time. As if it has never happened to those so called brillant media guys ? Maybe the organization should start to put tags on them, and see how they feel when someone puts their nose in their personal lives. Not the same when the shoe is on the other foot hey guys ? There only fault, they have more money in their pockets than we did at their age, sounds like jealousy to me boys.
What I find the most interesting in all of this, is that, the ''big bad media'' in Montreal, most of them when they started their careers,it was at a time when the team was winning back to back Stanley cups,they were eating out of Scotty Bowman's hand.They befriended players, such as Lafleur,Shutt,Robinson,Savard,Lapointe,Tremblay, to make sure that their relatives had the best places for the cup parade. Of course they won't admit to it.
I find a bit weird, that when the team is going thru a slump,they find ways to blow the team out of the water, with such childish garbage like we saw. Oh this is the best part, come July 1st, when Bob Gainey is looking to bring in a top UFA, they will be the first to critize him for not being able to.Boys maybe it's time you look at yourselves in the mirror, because if those UFA's don't want to come, it could be that their getting encouraged not too with what their read. Ever thought of that ?
Players playing in the other five canadian markets, at least get the respect of how they conduct themselves off-ice, and are not tracked like prey, if they just happen to act human. You don't see journalist at their door as if it was a police sting, even the cops are more discreet when doing so.
Time for the Montreal media to make a difference between the player and the human wearing a red white and blue jersey. Once done, maybe, and say maybe, it might have a chance to attract a player or players, that want to come win there.
As born Montrealer,I want to see the Canadiens win games and the cup on a regular basis, but until the media stops it's hounding of players and their private lives, we could be awhile until we see the cup in Montreal again.
The Countdown is now started to the 2009 NHL tradedeadline, with that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to do an update on both conference possible final standings. It will take at least 93 points in the East to make the playoffs, and 89 + in the West.
Conference Final Standings Projection
Eastern Conference
Rank
Team
Points
1
Boston
124
2
Washington
112
3
New Jersey
109
4
Philadelphia
103
5
Rangers
95*
6
Florida
95**
7
Montreal
95
8
Buffalo
93
9
Carolina
86
10
Pittsburgh
85
11
Ottawa
78
12
Toronto
75
13
TampaBay
70
14
Atlanta
66
15
Islanders
58
Western Conference
Rank
Team
Points
1
San Jose
127
2
Detroit **
119
3
Calgary
104
4
Chicago
107
5
Dallas
92*
6
Vancouver
92
7
Columbus
90
8
Edmonton
89
9
Minnesota
88
10
Los Angeles
86
11
Anaheim
85
12
Nashville
81
13
St-Louis
79
14
Colorado
77
15
Phoenix
76
*More Wins
** Goal differential
*More Wins
** Defending Champs
T eams have played two thirds of their schedules, and on average have about 25 games or less to get back in to the hunt or to maintain their ranks in the standings in both conferences.Alot of hockey still to be played until we find out the true standings for this year's playoffs. Folks, time will start to run out for some of them, which could determine who will be buyers and sellers on tradedeadline day. So follow your team's play in the next two weeks, it will give you an idea.
Whacky Trade Rumours
Lyle Richardson, aka Spector, dissects the wacky internet trade rumours.Before we get to them and Lyle's take on. Anyone that follows hockey, espacially since the end of the lock-out, knows it has become harder and harder to make trades,or for some Gm's who made mistakes, they can't bury them anymore, they are stuck with them until the end of the season, where he can buy that player out, a practice of last resort, also depending on the contract and the salary. Three rules of thumb must be applied, one the cap space and two, does it make sense, long term. Three, if you are the Gm on the other end of trade rumour, would you make it ?
Ok,now on two the fun. Kovalev for Satan, no way, it would just exchanging problems, may as well live with Kovalev than create more problems for yourself. I agree with Lyle, Gainey will go down an another road.
Oh we have not forgotten Vinny Lecavalier in of all of this, I'm not saying it won't or could not happen, but it won't at the tradedeadline. I don't believe that The Rangers will be able to pick him at the deadline, even less,in the off season.
As Pierre McGuire would put it, Clemmensen has been a monster for the Devils, he also got a lot of help from his teammates. A black cloud went over the team when Brodeur went down,some even thinking a certain exclusion from the playoffs. This team instead, came together and weathered the storm. It would be a good idea if the Canadiens players use the Devils as an example to get out of their slump.
Clemmensen is going nowhere.
I agree with Lyle on the three way swap between the Penguins, Leafs and Trashers, it won't happen.
Canadiens Gm,Bob Gainey,acquired former Habs defenseman, Mathieu Schneider from the Atlanta Trashers. In return, the Trashers acquire Montreal's 2 round draft choice in 2009 (from Washington) and 3rd round choice in 2010.Atlanta also sent a conditional pick along with Schneider. This deal should not really come as a surprise to anyone,as Gainey has been looking all season for such a veteran defenseman. A lot of critics will say, why Mathieu Schneider ? Why not, he is still capable to help the Canadiens. How much, that remains to be seen, but he can't do any worse than the present defense corps on the powerplay. I think he will be a good addition to the team.It's not like he has never played in Montreal before. I don't think he wanted to leave Montreal, just as Kirk Muller, when both were traded in 1995. Both will be reunited along with Guy Carbonneau, who was captain when Canadiens won the cup sixteen years ago, along with Brisebois, who was up to now the last surviving and still playing member of that team. Schneider will also recognize some familiar faces in the traveling press corps, in Benoit Brunet, who is now a commentator on RDS, along with analyst and coach of the Canadiens in 1993, Jacques Demers.
Mathieu is well aware of the pressures in playing in the fishbowl that is Montreal, and that the team is celebrating it's 100th season. I think Schneider can be a calming force and will be helpful in long run.
Welcome Back Mathieu !
At least one person from the Montreal Press, sees Schneider as a good thing for the Canadiens.
Former RDS comentator, Yvon Pedneault gives his take on the trade.
While Schneider was making his way to Montreal, his former team beat the Kings 7-6 in the shootout.
Therrien Cut loose in Pittsburgh
Not too long after seeing his team get trounced in the third period by the Maple Leafs, Michel Therrien was notified that his term of employment as head coach of the Penguins was going to end. This is not the first time Therrien has been fired. In January 2003, then coach of the Canadiens, he was notified that he no longer had a job, and was replaced by Claude Julien, who suffered the same faith three years later, when Bob Gainey also pulled the plug, and took over for the remainder of the 2005-06 season.
After leading the Young Pens to the Cup finals, Therrien signed a new three year extension, so I doubt that he is too worried about his financial security for the next two years. Guys like Therrien who eat and breath the profession they practice, don't usually sit home and feel sorry for themselves. If Therrien needs comfort, all he has to do, is look at Claude Julien.
I doubt that he stays unemployed for too long. As Stephen Knight puts it, some job will come up sooner than later. As coaches like Andy Murray, Tony Granato and yes even Gretzky, could be on the bubble and dismissed in the off season.
As far as his replacement goes, Dan Bylsma, I doubt that he will be a long term solution. I think the front-runner, even though it has not been mentionned, is Pat Quinn. Quinn impressed a lot of people in his handling of Team Canada in the WJC tournament, and has a pretty good relationship with Pens Owner Mario Lemieux.
Could Therrien's dismissal be the beginning of some shake up trades for the Pens ? Possible, the next two weeks will tell us that.
McGuire's Team Canada Selections
Last night on the NHL on TSN pre-game show, Pierre McGuire released his choices for team Canada in Vancouver next year for the Olympic games. When you look at the composition of the team, you can see that Pierre learned from the old master himself, Scotty Bowman. Good speed, grit, well balanced offensif and defensif minded players.Strong down the middle and on the wings. On defense, a combination of both rushing and stay at home defensemen. In goal, was a no brainer, how can you miss with Marty Brodeur, backed up by Luongo. This will be a good learning experience for Carey Price, hang around a guy that has made his living at winning and collecting Stanley cups, you should learn a thing or two about winning, pressure, but best of all, having fun doing it, when that happens, Brodeur would most likely tell you, the two first will take care of themselves.
Bob Gainey has been General Manager in Montreal for almost 6 years now, he has not buckled under the media and fan pressure so far, and surely won´t start doing so because Komisarek´s agent would like to hear word from him. I doubt that any NHL General Managers set their agendas to please player agents, Gainey is no different. Why the rush ?
The cap may go down a bit this year, but it´s the next two to three years that Gainey must be beware of, that is why he may have put off talks with his UFA´sso far. As permitted in the CBA, players can negotiate extensions in the last year of their present deals, including players on one year deals, who could do so only after January 1st.
Don´t worry Habs fans, Gainey wants to see Komisarek in a Bleu, blanc et Rouge sweater as much as you all do.
A little thing you must know
Trades and the cap count,I think it's worthy to go over, as even with almost four years done in the CBA on the subject there is still misconception about it.Ok let's go thru this, it's important.I hope I explain this right and not confuse people. We all know the tradedeadline is the most exciting time of the year for hockey fans, just as christmas is to everyone else, we agree. We all know or have heard the term, balancing the books. Well making a trade is a bit the same. Let's use the example of player that has a chance to move at the deadline. It might not be a good one, but I will use it anyways, Doug Weight of the Islanders. His cap hit was 4,3million at the beginning of the year. Of course, the Islanders have paid a good portion of it since then. So that number in a way is no longer valid. So take his 4,3 million dollar cap hit, and divide by 187 (days in the cap count) it will give you his daily amount, which comes up to 22,995, 65 $ a day. Take that number and multiply by 117, it will give how much he has taken up so far in the Islanders cap count so far. For sake of arguement, it comes up to 2,7 million. So 4,3 million minus 2.7 million, it gives you 1.6 million. That would be the cap space that a team would need to acquire him.
That is the easy part. Now the Islanders, receive in return a player that let's say that has a million dollars in salary owed. So the savings for the Islanders is 600k. True. On the other end the team that acquired him or trying to must have the 600k absorb it. If not, the deal is dead,unless the team that acquired him, had a player eliglible for LTIR, that made same salary as Weight or had the extra cap space to take on the rest. In the end, what I' m saying, is that at the end of the year, the beans have to be well aligned, and make Mr. Bettman happy, if not you will hear about it.
So next time you propose a trade, keep in mind the rule above, and your trade proposal may just make sense. If you have a player with a multi-year contract coming back, make sure your team has the cap space to absorb it.
I hope it was not too complicated. Yes it's what Gm's and their capologist have to keep in mind, when they want to shake things up. It's the reasons why we see so few trades. If the beans don't add up, wait til they do. Remember when Mom use to tell you to save up your good deads for a rainy day, well it's the same.The more good deads you had, the better bargainning power you had for favors, you wanted and needed. Right ?
Hartsburg in my opinion should be commended for accepting to come in to an all already messy situation, he gets canned by the guy that created it in the first place. It's simple,when Murray took over as Gm, following the dismissal of former Gm, John Muckler, he handcuffed his successor to a major problem in Ray Emery. A problem that should of been Bryan Murray's first order of business as the new General Manager. Emery would of had a good value on the trade market following the cup run he helped backstop.
Bryan Murray had been in the NHL long enough to know that keeping Emery was bad for business, based on his antics during the cup final and it was time for him to go. Instead Murray sat on his hands and watched the ticking time bomb blow, by then it was too late. Murray cans Paddock, and did not fair much better behind the bench than his former coach. The Sens were swept in four straight games by the Penguins last spring.
Murray depleted his defense corps last summer, when he traded Mezrasos to Tampa Bay, and lost Wade Redden for nothing to free agency. Probably worse of all, Murray may have strapped his team cap wise for years to come, by giving three players long term contracts, that will be hard to get rid of. Spezza, Heatley and Fisher. I have never been a big Bryan Murray fan as a coach, but I will give him credit for his work during the two seasons he was behind the bench. He had a good grasp on the team and it responded, that where he should of stayed. He may have shot himself in the foot by accepting the Gm job.
Don't expect to see him at the draft in June in Montreal, he could be gone either at the end of season or before. Sens owner could find himself with three former coaches and a Gm on the payroll standing in the umemployment line.
Flyers wish to retain Knuble
According to the Fourth period's David Pagnotta, the Flyers would like to keep forward Mike Knuble past the March 4th tradedeadline. But cap issues could make it difficult retaining him in to next season. Pagnotta even goes to suggest that if the Flyers could move Daniel Brière's contract, it would help them with their cap issues, but giving Brière's hefty contract and no mouvement contract, it's easier said than done. Now your a Canadiens fan, your at home,you must be very happy that he chose Philadelphia over Montreal.
Recchi On the move again ?
Not that I am suggesting Bob Gainey would do it, but would a Koivu-Recchi reunion be a good or bad thing for the Canadiens ? I have noted my reservations about the former Canadiens right winger. Is he the same guy that he was when he left Montreal, or has he matured ? It's surely an another option among many that Canadiens Gm, Bob Gainey will be looking at in the next few weeks. His team has been in slump for the last two to three weeks, he will look at all angles on how to help get out of it, espacially with his team going on possibly it's longest road trip of the year.
This is has not been Carey Price's finest moments in his short career as a Montreal Canadien. in the two games he has goaled this week, he has let in 10 goals, worst of all, he has not gotten any support from his teammates, that something that neither Guy Carbonneau or Bob Gainey want to see. It's not mentionned anywhere, if the Gm visited the players locker room, as a reminder to the players, that they have a mandate to fulfill and better get out of vacation mode and fast.
The Hall of Fame and former Canadiens captain, is not one to panic, but surely won't sit back and watch his team slide out of the playoffs. I'm surprised that head coach Guy Carbonneau didn't see this coming. It was pretty obvisious to anyone that follows hockey on a regular basis. Legendary and the late Toe Blake use to have fits when he saw his teams lift their foot from the pedal, when they were controlling the game. Blake use to tell his players that they usually start the next game the way they had finished the previous one. Let's go back two weeks, the Canadiens were dominating the Senators in Ottawa, they had total control of the game, they started to slack off , and bang, The Sens come in score two goals and force the game in to overtime and then a shoutout, which the Habs won by the skin of their teeth. Carbonneau seemed happy with the win, but if he had known that his team was on it's way to a four game losing streak, I doubt that he would as happy. Guys like Blake, Bowman and Carbonneau's former coach, Jacques Lemaire, would of been steaming mad.
Carbonneau did have his players on the ice early the next morning after the loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, with skating at the beginning and at the end, but no results. On Thursday, it was the sequel of the horror show in Tampa, but this time the Florida Cats were hungry, and ate up Price and his teammates 5-1. After the game, the young goaltender blew a fuse, and used some choice words, with cameras rolling. According to Marc-Antoine Godin of La Prese news paper, the Canadiens brass warned him about the excess language, espacially with the press around.
Guy Carbonneau has the task of getting this team back on track for the Super Bowl weekend matinees against the Los Angeles Kings and their all-time rivals and Eastern Conference leaders, the Boston Bruins. Both games start at 2pm, you can see them on the CBC and RDS.
Hossa done in Detroit ?
The Detroit Red Wings signed all-star and Conn Smyth trophy winner, Henrik Zetterberg to a twelve year 73 million dollar contract this week, which indicate that Marian Hossa could end being the odd man out in the motor city, as Gm ken Holland most likely will concentrate on getting Johan Frenzen signed. Given the state of the US economy, Holland will give priority to the players that have been in Detroit the longest, which is not the case for Hossa. The talented winger can do two things, one, take a hometown discount or two, test the UFA market. Of the two, Hossa will go test the market. One that might be pretty thin dollar wise, as teams will most likely chose to sign their RFA's before offer sheets come pourring in and have to match them. Of course, if he can go on the market as a Stanley cup champion that would be great, but I doubt it will bring his value up more. In my opinion, the UFA market in the next two or three years, could be pretty thin money wise for those hoping to cash in like those in the first four years of the CBA. Should be interesting folks.
Are teams in cap trouble ?
This is a good question, as the CBA is a complicated document to understand. The cap accounting is not as difficult as it seems. Of course if you have some knowledge on how accounting works in a major corporation, the cap is kids play to you, but if you don't, then you get lost as many others do. Remember, there is one thing balancing the family budget and that of a multinational corporation.
That being said. Let's look at examples where teams might be seem to be in trouble, and in reality they are not. One thing you must remember, a team can have a player on LTIR, but is not obligated to ask for the exemption right away, as it can be retroactive. You can still bring in a replacement player or more, as long as the salary or salaries do not exceed the one of the player on LTIR.
Now to be eligible for the long term injury exemption, you must prove that a player missed or will miss 10 games or 24 cap days. Now your wondering why the 10 games and the 24 cap days ? It depends on a teams schedule during a certain month. Let's say, and god forbid this would happen, but for argument sake. The Sens Captain, Alfredsson gets injured, he will be out possibly four weeks, which means 28 cap days. The Sens have a light schedule in February, in which they will possibly play at the most 9 games, thru 25 days. Since the 10 game rule does not apply, they can still apply, as he will miss 24 days, and can ask for the exemption right away, or make it retroactive when he gets back, to assure they get the credits at the end of the year and be cap compliant.
So if your a Flyers fan, and look at how much they have in cap space, don't worry, at the end of the year they will be cap compliant and won't penalized for it. Replacement players for those on LTIR, does not affect the cap space. Let's say they had 2 million in cap space before injuries, it does not change. There is many more examples I could give you, but let's stick to the ones I have given you. But it is true, that a team must free up space on the active roster when an injured player comes back, but not necessary cap space. The problem is not always about cap space, it's about the 23 man rule on active roster. Because a player is not in the line-up for a few games, it does not mean he is no longer on the active roster. Unless demoted, or is loaned to an another league, a player's salary continues to count against his teams upper limit.
Enjoy your Weekend of hockey and the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh by ten points.
Canada's national capital region is living it's second storm of 2009, so is La Belle Province. That usually spells hockey weather, well so to speak. Hockey, espacially NHL, that means the tradedeadline, rumours and of course, let's us not forget the good old salary cap.
In the coming weeks, you will hear, read and write about them. Now I know that you are all smart people, and can fish out a dumb rumour when you hear or read one. When reading or hearing a rumour, look at the possible players involved on both sides, the needs of both teams and of course, cap wise, does it make sense. If you think it sounds good, go see if someone else is talking or writing about it. If you do, then you there is a chance it has legs to stand on and may happen, if not, pass and move on. Ok well let's take a look at what is out there.
There is no direct link between Keith Tkachuk or any team directly or indirectly, but speculation on where his services could be needed or could be a good fit. Boston is mentionned as destination, but do they need him ? Possible. He has never been a real playoff performer. Remember the tradedeadline two years ago ? That was a bust. If I'm a Gm I would think twice about any kind trade involving Tkachuk. Remember Atlanta got shafted two years in a row with either purchasing or a selling a UFA. I'm not saying he would be a bust, just beware.
And no, Lecavalier won't be traded at the deadline.It's a question of the Lightning ownership coming to an agreement to do it or not, for one, and two, cap space to absorb the remaining of this year's contract, and of course the new one that comes in to effect on July 1st. This will give the Lightning brass three and a half months to decide if they pull the trigger or not. Once the playoffs over, we all know what teams will have on their agendas, the draft, oh by the way it's in Montreal this year, how interesting. If your the Lightning brass, you kind cheer the Montreal Canadiens on during the playoffs, and hope that they win the Cup. Why you say ? Well, then they will say, ''why do they do need vinny ? '' Good point, buit on the other hand, if they make an another second round exit, you cant bet your Canadiens jersey that the heat will be on for sure, on both sides. The Canadiens needing Vinny, and for the lightning getting true value if they sit down with George Gillett and Bob Gainey.
It should be an interesting next four weeks, other than in Tampa Bay, or maybe not.
The last time Vincent Lecavalier was in Montreal, he dressed in the visitors dressing room in the Bell Centre, this time around he got a chance to dress in the Canadiens dressing room as the Eastern conference is the home team at this year's All-Star Game.
With the rumours about his ''possible'' moving from Tampa Bay, Montreal is one of the cities mentionned in the so called rumour mill. So dressing in the mystical room that is the Canadiens, with all the history, the hall of famers and plus having to read the famous quote from Flanders field that the late former Canadiens coach Dick Irvin sr had painted on the wall in the old Forum '' From failing hands we throw the torch, be it yours to hold it high.'' As if that was not enough, you step on to the ice, and receive a standing ovation by the Montreal faithful and hopeful fans. Pierre McGuire from TSN, mentionned last night, that it's not Bob Gainey that will feel the pressure on making a deal to bring Lecavalier to Montreal, but it would be George Gillett jr that would feel the heat from the fans. As we all know, the Canadiens owner does not hide in his corporate box, he has a seat at ice level among the fans. The question is, would Gillett buckle under the pressure and almost order Bob Gainey to bring Lecavalier to Montreal ?
I doubt it, as he likes the team that Gainey has put on the ice. Don't forget that Gillett had to do some arm twisting to get Bob Gainey to accept the job in the first place, so it would make no sense for him to turn around and ask his General Manager to gut five years of hard work for one player. Sorry Habs fans, it won't happen that way anyways. Be assured that if there is a way to bring him to Montreal, Gainey, Gillett, Boivin and the CBA specialist, Julien Brisebois, will sit down and discuss it. One thing If I'm George Gillett, I'm crossing my fingers that his team makes it at least to the conference final, if ever by any bad luck, the Habs get knocked out in the initial round, you will hear about it around the league. As a Canadiens fan myself, I would like to see Vinny in a Montreal jersey, but not at any cost. So don't hold your breath on seeing Lecavalier in a Bleu, Blanc et Rouge jersey anytime soon.
Bouwmeester and the Panthers
The Florida Panthers Gm, Jacques Martin, has one awesome task on his hands with the Bouwmeester situation and how to handle it. It's pretty clear, that the star defenseman has no intention on wanting to stay on past this season, he would like to test the UFA market this summer. With little more than a month to go before the tradedeadline, and his team at the present moment in a possibility of making the Playoffs, he will hang on to his star player. If Martin is in the same position come the deadline, that's where the decision he makes could be difficult. Bouwmeester's trade value will be sky high, if he trades him, he is telling the fans, I'm tanking the season, and putting his job on the line. If he keeps him, in hopes of trading him at the draft in Montreal in June, he knows he won't get the same return as he would if he moves him at the deadline. Another situation, he keeps him at the deadline, and the Panthers miss the playoffs in the last weekend of the season,the fans will be calling for him to be fired. A real catch 22 situation, damn if you do, and same if you don't. Being an NHL Gm is not as easy it's led on to be. Good luck Jacques, I'm glad I'm not in your shoes.
A little side note of humour, the notorious Mr. Eklund on his site, has Bouwmeester going to the Leafs, and puts it in the (e4) category. Check it out.
I'm hoping and crossing my fingers, that I can make more regular entries to this blog from now until the end of the season.Health and personal reasons have kept me from doing so. I enjoy writing, espacially about hockey, and I have missed that, so please bare with me, as I try to give new life to this blog.
Since it's the Canadiens centenial year, the All-Star game and draft will be held in the city of '' Les Glorieux'' What better time for a little quiz. Not everyone knows about this, let's see if you can get it. Two well known Canadiens Hall of Famers once rode on a ski-doo to get to a game at the Montreal Forum, can you name those Hall of Famers ? A litlle hint, one of them is still in hockey. The answer on my next entry.
It's the All-Star weekend in Montreal, which means that after, this is where teams start getting serious and make that push to make the playoffs. For a lot of teams this is a forgone conclusion, but for others, it's make or break time. The margin of error is alot tighter. Slumps and injuries could become a major factor. So let's look at the teams, and what they have to do from the All-Star break until the end of the season, to have a glimer of a chance in making the playoffs. The table below is pretty simple to understand. I put what the teams have put on board in points so far,and what they need to get to 90 points, which I used as the mesuring stick for both conferences. The last number is the maximum amount of points according to the amount of games left to play. Will your team make it ?
Eastern Conference
Team
Pts
PTS needed
Max Possible
Boston
73
17+
70
Washington
63
27+
68
New Jersey
61
29+
70
Montreal
60
30+
72
Rangers
60
30+
68
Philadelphia
59
31+
72
Buffalo
53
37+
70
Carolina
51
39+
68
Florida
50
40+
72
Pittsburgh
50
40+
68
Toronto
42
48+
70
TampaBay
42
48+
70
Ottawa
39
51+
76
Atlanta
39
39+
68
Islanders
31
59+
70
Western Conference
Team
Pts
PTS needed
Max Possible
San Jose
73
17+
74
Detroit
68
22+
72
Calgary
60
30+
72
Chicago
58
32+
74
Phoenix
53
37+
68
Edmonton
51
39+
72
Vancouver
51
39+
68
Anaheim
51
39+
66
Minnesota
49
41+
72
Columbus
49
41+
70
Dallas
47
43+
74
Colorado
47
43+
70
Los Angeles
45
45+
72
Nashville
43
47+
72
ST.Louis
42
48+
72
This is surely the best time of the season. Enjoy the All-Star Weekend
We are less than 30 hours from the 3pm, eastern time deadline limit. All the major sports channels have been gearing for weeks for tomorrow's deadline.The question is : will everyone end up disappointed when the clock ticks at 3 New York ? 
